Monday, September 23, 2019
CBS Fall Pilot Review: Bob Hearts Abishola - Premieres Monday (Sept. 23); ABC Fall Pilot Review: mixed-ish - Premieres Tuesday (Sept. 24)

Bob Hearts Abishola - Mondays at 8:30 PM ET/PT on CBS
Premieres Monday, September 23, 2019 at 8:30PM ET/PT
Folake Olowofoyeku as Abishola
Christine Ebersole as Dottie
Matt Jones as Douglas
Maribeth Monroe as Christina
Vernee Watson as Gloria
Shola Adewusi as Olu
Barry Shabaka Henley as Tunde
Maribeth Monroe (Christina) is best known for her role of Alice on Workaholics. She has also had roles in The Good Place and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
Vernee Watson (Gloria) has had a long career in TV, first playing Verna Jean Williams on Welcome Back, Kotter. She also appeared in both seasons of Carter Country, but is known to more contemporary audiences as Aunt Vy from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Nurse Althea on The Big Bang Theory.
Shola Adewusi (Olu) is new to American audiences, but she has had a career in British TV and film for the past two decades.
Barry Shabaka Henley (Tunde) is an American actor who has appeared in recurring roles in early 90s sitcoms including The Royal Family and Roc.
In the pilot episode, we meet Bob, a sock salesman who has a heart attack and encounters nurse Abishola in the hospital. Being lonely in life, Bob begins to get to know Abishola and begins to having romantic feelings for her, but does she feel the same way?
Bob is still doing everything he can to get Abishola to like him, but an extra challenge comes along when Abishola's aunt and uncle get involved.
"A Bird May Love Fish" (Airs October 7 at 8:30PM ET)
Bob wants to get to know Abishola a bit better, and attempts to do so by getting to know her culture a little better.
In fact, it isn't just Olowofoyeku. This series has a great cast that seems to go together pretty well. And of course, Billy Gardell is an actor who is meant for a broadcast network sitcom, so he fits right in place here. It's also nice to see some faces that have been around for a while, such as Christine Ebersole and Vernee Watson.
Like most Chuck Lorre sitcoms, it doesn't exactly bring out big laughs or even a well-written script for that matter. But that's not always necessary. It's one of those shows that you can just kind of sit down and watch while you do something else and enjoy. If you miss a moment, you won't miss much, but you can still follow along with the story.
Basically, it's another Chuck Lorre sitcom. You either love them or you hate them (personally I'm somewhere on the fence as they can be funny, but also tend to bring out all of the most annoying things that one can find in a broadcast network sitcom), but regardless, most series with his name on it have had a history of success. Broadcast TV is where he belongs, as his critically panned Netflix series Disjointed proved (though The Kominsky Method is going a bit better), and this could potentially be something that we see on the air for years to come if it attracts that CBS sitcom audience. Airing on the lineup after The Neighborhood, another sitcom that deals with people from different backgrounds, may also be good to keep it going. I don't think this is going to be my favorite new show of the season and I'm not even sure that I'll watch it regularly, but I'll certainly check in on it from time to time.
Final Numbers (out of 5 stars):
Watchability: 3.5/5
Funniness: 3/5
Overall: 4/5
Discuss the show after you watch it on Monday, September 23, 2019 at 8:30PM ET/PT on our message board.
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Preview:

mixed-ish - Tuesdays at 9:00PM ET/PT on ABC
Premieres Tuesday, September 24, 2019 at 9:00PM ET/PT
by Pavan
The black-ish franchise expands with its newest spinoff mixed-ish, coming to ABC this Tuesday. Rainbow Johnson recounts her experience growing up in a mixed-race family in the '80s, and the dilemmas they face to acclimate in the suburbs while staying true to themselves. Bow's parents Paul and Alicia decide to move from a hippie commune to the suburbs to better provide for their family. As her parents struggle with the challenges of their new life, Bow and her siblings navigate a mainstream school in which they're perceived as neither black nor white. This family's experiences illuminate the challenges of finding one’s own identity when the rest of the world can't decide where you belong.
Cast Details:
Tika Sumpter as Alicia Johnson
Christina Anthony as Denise
Arica Himmel as Bow Johnson
Ethan William Childress as Johan Johnson
Mykal-Michelle Harris as Santamonica Johnson
Gary Cole as Harrison Johnson
Mark-Paul Gosselaar (Paul) made his television debut as Zack Morris in the popular teen sitcom Saved by the Bell. Since then, he has had an extensive and successful television career starring in a number of shows, including last season on The Passage and Pitch for Fox; ABC's Commander in Chief, alongside Geena Davis; the critically acclaimed ABC classic drama NYPD Blue; TNT's Raising the Bar; and TNT's Franklin & Bash with Breckin Meyer.
Tika Sumpter (Alicia) has established herself as one of Hollywood's rising talents. She most recently starred in David Lowery's The Old Man & The Gun, opposite Robert Redford, Danny Glover and Sissy Spacek; Tyler Perry's Nobody's Fool, opposite Tiffany Haddish; and the independent feature An Acceptable Loss, opposite Jamie Lee Curtis. Next, Sumpter will star in Paramount's Sonic the Hedgehog, alongside Jim Carrey and James Marsden. Sumpter is known for her work on OWN's highest-rated series The Haves and the Have Nots. She stars as Candace Young in the one-hour drama written, directed and produced by Tyler Perry. She can also be heard on the new hit TBS animated show Final Space with Fred Armisen. Her past television credits include the CW's Gossip Girl, BET's The Game and the Daytime Emmy Award-winning soap opera One Life to Live, which garnered her an NAACP Image Award nomination.
Christina Anthony (Denise) is a multitalented actress, writer, vocalist and improviser. She is originally from the Chicago comedy scene and is best known as an alum of the Second City e.t.c. Chicago, where she co-wrote three award-nominated sketch revues and performed thousands of shows for Chicago audiences. Her favorite on-camera roles as an actress include Key & Peele (Comedy Central), Mash Up (Comedy Central), Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ (Seeso), Take My Wife (Seeso), Bunk'd (Disney), Why Women Kill (CBS All Access), ER (NBC) and The Dilemma (Universal).
Arica Himmel (Bow) was born and raised in New York City, where she made her theatrical debut off-Broadway in The Layover (Second Stage Theatre). Himmel guest-starred on God Friended Me and recurred on Thanksgiving with Amy Sedaris and Chris Elliott. She played a supporting role in Before You Know It with Mandy Patinkin and Mike Colter, which premiered in competition at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival.
Ethan William Childress (Johan) was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, as the youngest child of four. He was enrolled in a charter school for the arts and began to thrive as an actor, eventually realizing that this was his calling. He decided to give up playing on a competitive soccer team to focus on acting, and it was soon after that his parents enrolled him in an actor showcase to help him pursue it full time.
Mykal-Michelle Harris (Santamonica) is a bright young face in Hollywood, who can be seen in HBO's Big Little Lies as young Bonnie. She is known for her roles on A Kid Called Mayonnaise, Little Big Shots and The Affair, as well as multiple festival short films. Harris was born in New Jersey and discovered her love for acting at a very young age. When she was just 3 years old, she recorded a viral video, "Like Serena," that landed her on CNN and Good Morning America, and catapulted her into the industry with runway shows and global commercials.
Gary Cole (Harrison) was most recently seen in the seventh and final season of award-winning HBO series Veep, starring opposite Julia Louis-Dreyfuss. Best known for his film roles in classic cult comedies such as Office Space, Pineapple Express, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby and Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Gary Cole is a veteran of both the screen and the stage. Additional film credits include American Pastime, Breach, The Ring 2, Crazy in Love, Win a Date With Tad Hamilton!, I Spy, One Hour Photo, The Gift, A Simple Plan, Kiss the Sky, The Brady Bunch Movie and Clint Eastwood's In the Line of Fire.
"Becoming Bow" (airs Tuesday, September 24 at 9:00PM ET/PT)
Young Rainbow Johnson recounts her experience growing up in a mixed-race family in the '80s, and the dilemmas they face to acclimate in the suburbs while staying true to themselves. Bow's parents, Paul and Alicia, decide to move from a hippie commune to the suburbs to better provide for their family. Their experiences illuminate the challenges of finding one's own identity when the rest of the world can’t decide where you belong. black-ish stars guest star: Anthony Anderson as Andre "Dre" Johnson, Tracee Ellis Ross as Rainbow Johnson, Laurence Fishburne as Pops, Marcus Scribner as Andre Johnson Jr., Miles Brown as Jack Johnson and Marsai Martin as Diane Johnson.
Analysis:
This spin-off of black-ish is set in 1985 when Bow was 12 years old. This episode was originally slated to be backdoor pilot episode inside of black-ish last season, but ABC held it to be the actual pilot episode of mixed-ish. It follows the Johnson family and being a mixed family in the '80s. The Johnsons were living in a commune but now are moving to the suburbs, where interracial families weren't as common. Bow's parents were one of the first interracial couples in the country to get married and also have children, so this tackles some serious topics. Bow has two younger siblings, as we know from black-ish, Johan and Santamonica.
The pilot episode sets up the tone and vibe of this comedy very nicely. The entire family has great chemistry and Arica Himmel, who plays Bow, is outstanding. Mark-Paul and Tika are great as Bow's parents and just as good as Beau Bridges and Anna Deavere Smith portray on black-ish. Although they don't really look like each other, especially Tika and Anna. The kids who play Johan and Santamonica are also fantastic and do Daveed Diggs and Rashida Jones justice from black-ish. The great Gary Cole as Harrison is superb as well from a character we didn't know much about yet.
Conclusion:
Final Numbers (out of 5 stars):
Watchability: 4/5
Funniness: 3.5/5
Overall: 4/5
Discuss the show after you watch it on Tuesday, September 24, 2019 at 9:00PM ET/PT on our message board.
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Preview:
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Monday, April 6
The Neighorhood - "Welcome to Gemma Johnson's Day Off" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Gemma reaches her limit at work, and when a car issue forces her to slow down, an unexpected break helps her rethink what she really wants next. Meanwhile, Marty and Malcolm’s plans are thrown off course when unexpected opportunities arise, and Dave embraces a new career path.

The Neighorhood - "A Farewell Special" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
CBS presents The Neighborhood: A Farewell Special, an Entertainment Tonight production, airing Monday, April 6 (8:30-9:30 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+. Hosted by Entertainment Tonight's Kevin Frazier and filmed on location on The Neighborhood's stages, the special celebrates the acclaimed CBS comedy's final season, honoring eight seasons, 156 episodes, and eight unforgettable years of laughter, heart and community, leading up to the series finale on May 11.
This celebratory event features exclusive new interviews with the cast reflecting on their journey, revisiting early days on set, and looking back at the show's evolution and cultural impact. From its heartfelt exploration of friendship and family to its comedic take on life in a changing community, The Neighborhood has become a beloved part of CBS' comedy legacy.
The special includes never-before-seen footage and archival interviews from the ET Vault, offering fans a nostalgic look at the series' most iconic moments and the relationships built along the way. Viewers will get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the emotional final days of production, including the cast and crew's last table read, intimate moments from the final tapings, and heartfelt goodbyes.
Additionally, The Neighborhood: A Farewell Special brings audiences inside the cast's final wrap party, capturing the laughter, speeches, memories, and surprises that marked the end of an era. To cap off the evening, fans will get an exclusive sneak peek at the upcoming series finale, with the cast and producers sharing what viewers can expect as the Butlers and Johnsons say farewell to the neighborhood they've called home for nearly a decade.
The Neighorhood - "Welcome to New Horizons" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Dave’s silent auction wins lead to a classical concert outing with Gemma and the Butlers that quickly goes off the rails. Meanwhile, Malcolm’s ghostwriting gig takes a surprising turn when Tina encourages him to dive into reality TV for inspiration – sparking an unexpected obsession.
St. Denis Medical - "We Make Time" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When a doctor becomes a patient, his co-workers rally around him, whether he likes it or not; Matt and Serena need to talk.
The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins - "The Loyalty Swamp" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Tobin's past comes back to haunt him; Reggie and Brina struggle to set a wedding date.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 6)
Monday, April 6
- Jason Segel (Shrinking/How I Met Your Mother/Undeclared) - Watch Jason on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Lisa Ann Walter (Abbott Elementary/Emeril) - Lisa appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Keanu Reaves (Swedish Dicks) - Keanu is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS. He also talks about Outcome on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
- Melissa Gilbert (Stand by Your Man) - ABC's Good Morning America has George Stephanopoulos' exclusive interview with Melissa sometime between 7-9am.
- Laurie Metcalf (Big Mistakes/The Conners/Roseanne/The McCarthys/The Norm Show) - Laurie talks about Big Mistakes on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
- Kerry Washington (UnPrisoned) - Kerry chats with the ladies of The View on a repeat on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Mindy Kaling (Running Point/The Mindy Project/The Office) - Mindy talks about Mindy's Book Studio on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
- Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine/Are We There Yet?/Everybody Hates Chris) - Terry and Rebecca King-Crews make an exclusive announcement on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am. Terry will also be on in the 9am hour.
- Sterling K. Brown (Starved) and Ryan Michelle Bathe (First Wives Club/Retired at 35) - Sterling and his wife Ryan Michelle tell Sherri about the highly anticipated new season of Paradise now streaming on Hulu & Disney+ on a repeat of Sherri, so check your local listings.
- Amanda Peet (Brockmire/Togetherness/Bent) - Amanda talks season 2 of Your Friends & Neighbors and her new film Fantasy Life on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)
09/30 - Touché Turtle and Dum Dum - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
10/07 - Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season (DVD)
10/14 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
10/28 - St. Denis Medical - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/04 - Happy's Place - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/11 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/11 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fifteenth Season (DVD)
11/11 - Two and a Half Men - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/02 - Tom and Jerry - The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
12/16 - Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/16 - Wally Gator - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
01/20 - The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection (Blu-ray)
01/27 - The New Fred and Barney Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/11 - Tom and Jerry - The Complete CinemaScope Collection (Blu-ray)
03/24 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
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